tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32480522.post9028339654898116441..comments2021-10-03T18:55:34.018+04:00Comments on The Armenian Economist: Fallout from the Slaying of Hrant DinkUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32480522.post-60488926820445861652007-02-01T00:01:00.000+04:002007-02-01T00:01:00.000+04:00That is precisely what a blockade is, and the natu...That is precisely what a blockade is, and the natural response to it. Once products hit the international market, in this case Georgia, they become fungible and anyone can trade in them. Armenians will trade and do business with anyone and work anywhere, which I think is one of our better traits. (The only beer you can buy in Yerevan in the early 1990s was from Turkey). Armenians will also buy Azerbaijani products once they hit the Georgian market.<br />The reverse is more problematic. Outside Istanbul, particularly in the eastern provinces or historic Armenia, few will dare to openly call themselves Armenians and the Made in Armenia label might the kiss of death. I guess as long as we are low key, we'll be ok. So I am not sure how trade will evolve without some major change in the outlook and thinking of much of the population of Turkey.<br />The blockade is a very serious issue and has already caused enough permanent damage to last for a generation or two. In 1994, for instance, you could barely find a car on the streets of Yerevan; two cars would have been the extent of a traffic jam. With no fuel, you had little electricity and heat, and without raw materials factories were idle (and now obsolete)-- the silicon valley of the Soviet Union destroyed. Kars is only an hour or two from the border, and could have supplied all that Armenia needed. I can't imagine what could've happened had it not been for the emergency infusion of US shipments of fuel, food, and other humanitarian aid through Georgia (Turkey denied the US access) at the time.<br />Notwithstanding of what we think of the government, there are some outstanding personalities and professionals in Turkey who are highly respected around the world. In addition, if at least a small fraction of what I read recently in the press of Turkey endures, that would give me sufficient hope that things may change in Turkey. As Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Islam, this whole thing is odd. Had Hrant converted to Islam the day before he was slain, we would be talking today about another slain Turk journalist and not an ethnic Armenian. Go figure!<br />In any event, one can only imagine what the world would have looked like today if the former president of Turkey Turgut Ozal had led a convoy of trucks loaded with food, medicine, and fuel to Armenia in 1992, instead of threatening to teach it the "lesson of 1915."Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04474406562617719849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32480522.post-7016318176995246452007-01-24T12:22:00.000+04:002007-01-24T12:22:00.000+04:00Good from Armenia are sold in Turkey, and particul...Good from Armenia are sold in Turkey, and particularly vice-versa. Turks travel into Armenia by road via Georgia on direct flights from Turkey and vice-versa. Armenians from here go to do trade in Turkey or to work as nannies. There is also meant to be trafficking for prostitution.<br /><br />Basically, relations between Armenians and Turks are ironically better than between Armenians and Azeris or Georgians. The main issue is the LAND border is closed and the issue of Genocide Recognition has not been resolved. Territorial concessions will never happen, though.<br /><br />Well, unless Armenians are willing to take in millions of Turks and Kurds, have a Turkish/Kurdish president elected, and become a predominently Moslem country over night.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com